Erik van Rooyen Bio
Frederik Wilhelm van Rooyen, known professionally as Erik van Rooyen, is a South African professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. Born on 21 February 1990 in Bellville, South Africa, he has built a résumé that includes two PGA Tour victories and one European Tour title. Standing 188 cm tall, he turned professional in 2013 and has since become a respected competitor on multiple international circuits.
Van Rooyen first gained widespread attention with his breakthrough win at the 2019 Scandinavian Invitation and later cemented his reputation in the United States with a record-setting performance at the 2021 Barracuda Championship. He added a second PGA Tour title at the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure on some of the game’s biggest stages.
Early Life and Background
Erik van Rooyen was born in Bellville, a suburb of Cape Town in South Africa’s Western Cape province. Growing up in a country with a deep golfing tradition, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed his game in the competitive junior and amateur ranks of South African golf. His early dedication to the game laid the foundation for a future in professional competition.
Van Rooyen later relocated to the United States to pursue collegiate golf at the University of Minnesota, where he studied and played from 2009 through 2013. During his time as a Golden Gopher, he captured the 2012 Minnesota State Amateur, a victory that helped confirm his status as one of the top amateur players in the region. His college experience also provided him with the high-level competitive environment needed to prepare for a professional career.
Path to Professional Golf
After completing his collegiate career, van Rooyen made the decision to turn professional in 2013. He joined the Sunshine Tour, South Africa’s domestic professional circuit, and began the process of sharpening his skills against seasoned tour veterans. His transition from amateur to professional competition was marked by steady improvement and a willingness to compete in international events.
His first significant professional victory came in early 2017 at the Eye of Africa PGA Championship on the Sunshine Tour, where he made a birdie on the first extra hole of a three-man playoff. Later that year, he played on the Challenge Tour and won the Hainan Open, a co-sanctioned event with the China Tour. A string of strong finishes, including a tie for third at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, earned him third place on the Challenge Tour Race to Oman rankings, which secured his card for the 2018 European Tour season.
In December 2017, van Rooyen finished as runner-up at the Joburg Open, three strokes behind Shubhankar Sharma, and his high finish granted him entry to the 2018 Open Championship, his first major championship. That same year, he was named the European Tour Graduate of the Year, recognizing his successful transition from the developmental tours to the top tier of European golf.
Erik van Rooyen Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
Van Rooyen began his professional career on the Sunshine Tour in 2013, where he spent his first few years gaining experience and refining his game. He competed in a variety of South African events and steadily built a reputation as a promising young talent. The transition from the amateur ranks to the professional circuit required patience, and van Rooyen used this period to learn how to handle the pressures of weekly competition.
Although specific results from this period are limited, his work on the Sunshine Tour prepared him for the international opportunities that followed. By 2017, he was ready to test himself on larger stages, and his early career laid the groundwork for the victories that would soon follow on the Challenge Tour and the European Tour.
European Tour Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Van Rooyen’s breakthrough on the European Tour came in 2017, when he earned his card through strong play on the Challenge Tour. He quickly made an impact, finishing as runner-up at the Joburg Open in December of that year and leading the 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open by four strokes after three rounds before a final-round 74 dropped him into a tie for fourth place. These performances demonstrated that he could compete at the highest level of European golf.
He started 2019 with strong finishes, including joint runner-up results at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and the Hassan II Golf Trophy, along with a top-10 finish at the 2019 PGA Championship. The defining moment of his European Tour career came on 25 August 2019, when he won the Scandinavian Invitation at Hills Golf and Sports Club outside Gothenburg, Sweden. He sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 72nd hole to win by a stroke, setting a new tournament record of 261 on the par-70 course.
Following his Scandinavian Invitation victory, van Rooyen tied for third at the WGC-Mexico Championship in February 2020 and advanced to a career-best 40th on the Official World Golf Ranking. Later that year, a T20 finish at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational earned him Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.
PGA Tour Era (2021–Present)
Van Rooyen claimed his first PGA Tour victory in August 2021 at the Barracuda Championship, a modified stableford event. He broke the tournament scoring record by accumulating 50 points over four rounds, a remarkable performance that confirmed his ability to win on American soil. The victory was a major milestone in his career and established him as a full-time competitor on the PGA Tour.
In November 2023, van Rooyen won the World Wide Technology Championship for his second PGA Tour title. He sealed the victory with an eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole on Sunday, closing with a 9-under 63 that included a back-nine score of 28. The win came more than two years after his first PGA Tour success and demonstrated his resilience and ability to perform in clutch moments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among van Rooyen’s most memorable moments are his record-setting performance at the 2021 Barracuda Championship and his dramatic eagle on the 72nd hole to win the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship. His 2019 Scandinavian Invitation victory remains his only European Tour title, and his 2012 Minnesota State Amateur win stands as a highlight of his amateur career. He was also named the European Tour Graduate of the Year in 2018, recognizing his rapid rise through the developmental ranks.
Erik van Rooyen Career Wins
Erik van Rooyen has accumulated a total of six professional wins across multiple tours. His victories span the Sunshine Tour, the Challenge Tour, the European Tour, and the PGA Tour, reflecting his versatility as a competitor on both his home circuit and the international stage.
PGA Tour Highlights
Van Rooyen has won twice on the PGA Tour, with his first victory coming at the 2021 Barracuda Championship, where he set a new tournament scoring record. His second PGA Tour title arrived at the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship, capped by an eagle on the final hole. Both wins demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure and cemented his status as a PGA Tour champion.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his PGA Tour successes, van Rooyen has recorded wins on the European Tour, the Sunshine Tour, and the Challenge Tour. His European Tour victory came at the 2019 Scandinavian Invitation, while his Sunshine Tour title was earned at the 2017 Eye of Africa PGA Championship. He also won the 2017 Hainan Open on the Challenge Tour, a victory that helped propel him to the top tier of European golf.
Erik van Rooyen Family
Personal Life
Erik van Rooyen is married to Rose van Rooyen. The couple has been a supportive presence throughout his professional career, and van Rooyen has often spoken about the role his family plays in his success on the golf course. He currently resides in Johannesburg, South Africa, when not competing on tour in the United States and Europe.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Erik van Rooyen continues to compete on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour, drawing on the experience of his two PGA Tour victories and his growing comfort on the biggest stages in golf. With several years of full PGA Tour status now under his belt, he has positioned himself as a consistent presence in the fields of the game’s premier events.
His 2025 campaign is expected to include appearances at major championships and World Golf Championships, where his prior top-10 finish at the 2019 PGA Championship and his tie for third at the 2020 WGC-Mexico Championship demonstrate his ability to compete against the world’s best players. His track record of strong finishes in high-profile events suggests he will be a factor in several marquee tournaments throughout the year.
With his game built on solid ball-striking, course management, and a steady temperament, van Rooyen enters 2025 aiming to add to his tally of professional wins and continue his rise up the Official World Golf Ranking. His combination of international experience, family support, and proven performance under pressure positions him well for another competitive season on both sides of the Atlantic.